Larry Miller Automall in Caldwell to close

The decision was a two-part issue for Larry Miller Automall, which sells both General Motors and Ford products.

In May, General Motors notified Larry Miller Automotive that it would end its relationship with the automall and 1,300 other dealers as part of a nationwide consolidation effort, company officials said.

Then Ford, which saw an opportunity to consolidate its market in the Treasure Valley, approached the dealership about shutting down its Ford operation, said Scott Harding, senior vice president of operations for Larry H. Miller Automotive, based in Salt Lake City.

"It needed to right-size the Boise market," he said.

Ford Company officials couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday. But D.J. Wiebold, general manager of the Wiebold Ford Dealership in Nampa said Larry Miller's decision to close the automall is "part of a consolidation effort to make all the (Ford) dealers in the Valley healthier."

Ford has six dealerships in the Treasure Valley and now will have five.

Auto dealers in the Treasure Valley faced a sagging, slow market for more than a year as the recession gripped the economy, lending tightened and customers backed off spending.

Customers who have purchased cars at the automall can have their vehicles serviced at Larry Miller's Boise dealerships, company officials said. Dan Wiebold Ford can accommodate warranty requests for Ford, company officials say. "We are confident that other General Motors stores in the area will be more than accommodating regarding GM warranty needs," said Tony Schnurr, Larry Miller president.

Closing of the Automall at 6009 Cleveland Blvd., Caldwell, is just one more reminder that it is a buyer's market for cars, said Trent Wright, executive director for Idaho Automobile Dealers Association.

Automall sales mimicked nation trends, which were down about 25 percent, said Harding.

New car sales are down by about 32 percent in the state, Wright said. The association estimates a 12-13 percent increase in new cars sales in Idaho next year.

Larry Miller Automall's General Motors inventory is sold. Most of the Ford inventory will go to Wiebold Ford.

The Automall's 47 employees were told of the closure Tuesday. Officials declined to say exactly when they made the decision. The company is helping many of its employees find jobs at other Larry Miller dealerships or Wiebold Ford.

Bill Roberts: 377-6408